Ticket to Ride

The aim of the game: Draw cards that tell you which cities to connect via rail. At the end of the game, you'll get a 10 point bonus for having the longest track. But keep in mind your opponent is trying to cut you off and beat you to locations.

Difficulty to learn: Easy! Just follow the tutorial.

Will you play it by yourself after the storm? Yes -- there are a few expansion packs available as in-app purchases that will hold your attention for a good while.

Puerto Rico

The aim of the game: This one's tricky to explain in a soundbite, but it's similar to Settlers in that you're trying to accumulate victory points and manage resources. Each turn, you can select one of six different roles, such as Settler or Mayor, for different bonuses.

Difficulty to learn: Hard! There's a tutorial, but it's better if everyone already knows how to play.

Will you play it by yourself after Thanksgiving? If you already know and like the game, then definitely yes. If your only experience is with the app, then it's a solid maybe.

Bang!

The aim of the game: Players draw cards that determine their roles throughout the game. The Outlaws hunt the Sheriff, the Sheriff hunts the Outlaws, the Deputy is ready to sacrifice himself for the Sheriff, and the Renegade wants to kill everyone.

Difficulty to learn: Easy!

Will you play it by yourself after the storm? Yes. Online multiplayer means there's always someone ready for a standoff.

The aMAZEing Labyrinth

The aim of the game: Navigate through an ever-changing maze to collect treasure and eventually escape the labyrinth.

Difficulty to learn: Easy.

Will you play it by yourself after the storm? Young kids will like it because of the wizards and magic, adults will like it because it's fairly engaging too. If either of these apply to you, then it's money well-spent.

Cargo Runners

The aim of the game: You're the captain of a ship, sailing around the world in an effort to collect the proper combination of goods before returning to port to collect your cash.

Difficulty to learn: Easy.

Will you play it by yourself after the storm? Probably. Be warned - there's no AI, meaning that if you want to play by yourself, you need internet access for multiplayer. The game is really meant to be played with real people sitting around a table.